Karuta (かるた)

Karuta (かるた), the legendary art of playing cards or as my kids seem to think...the art of slapping every card visible in the hopes that one of them is right. So how it works is a topic is chosen with different vocabulary, cards are made using pictures, words, or symbols. My elementary school kids go ballistic when it's karuta time. I call out a word in English and then they must be the first to slap that same card with their cute little pudgy hands. Seems innocent enough at first, until a kid falls out of his seat and cuts open his lip (as happened today) or the bully of the group takes the card out of the timid girl's hand or there is one child in the group who has advanced English skills...which ruins it for the other kids.
"Rock, scissors, paper" is the only way to settle a dispute over who gets the winning card...but then again it's about the only way to settle any dispute in Japan. Here's a cutie shot of 3 year old Aran, my friend's son, who I tried to play original Japanese karuta with...he was a fast sucker!!! That and I could barely read out the Japanese fast enough on the hint cards to him...but he didn't mind. I love kids!!

HELP!! All of you computer techies...

I've tried everything to get my sidebar to reappear at the top of the screen (as it's now hovering shyly at the very bottom of the pink expanse of my cyberspace)... I've erased pictures, shortened titles, changed number of days/entries shown on main page....but NOTHING WORKS!! Any ideas, any ideas????? Please help!! (And no I'm not desperate....just don't wanna waste any more time over it ^_^ !!) Siempre...

The decision is made...Mexico!

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD : "Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message." So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Then the word of the LORD came to me: "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. (Jeremiah 18: 1-6)

Through many prayers, blessings, events that most don't know about, and some much needed encouragement, God has guided me to the decision to return to Mexico this coming fall!! At least a decision as far as decisions can be made in the here and now!! I will be returning to my dear Mission Mazahua. I don't know how or when I'll be going, but I do know I'm EXCITED to see the work that God has set before me to help at the Mission!!!! They need my help in ways that God has gifted me, such as working with the artists and developing marketing materials, and I already know I will come away with much more than I can give by experiencing the generosity, humility, and strength of working alongside the Mazahua people. This mission has been heavy on my heart since I first became a Christian during which time my love for Mexico and its people have increased with subsequent trips there. Here are a few snapshots of the area...

For those of you who don't know the story, my mother lived in Mexico twice as she was studying to become a Spanish profesora. How random that of all the pueblos in Mexico she happened to live, one was Atlacomulco with a señorita named Consuelo Mercado. She stayed there when she was about my age...ummm...well ok maybe like when she was college-aged hahaha. I guess I can't use that phrase so much now as I'm almost 28!! This pueblo is, as the crow flies, a stones throw from the Mission. When I traveled to Mexico last summer, I went on an adventure to find the afore mentioned woman. My mother had lost contact with her over the years. After scouting the streets of Atlacolmulco for quite some time and pestering about every friendly person I could see with an crumpled and scribbled on paper stating a "Sur" (South) something or rather, I was finally directed to the Office of Addresses where I was expecting to find further help. However to my surprise, the Srta. Mercado was situated at the desk. She immediately knew who I was with one mention of Kathy, my mother. A remarkable woman...oh that would be both my mother and also Consuelo hahaha ^_^ ! Consuelo has since corresponded with my mom and I'm looking forward to visiting with her more as my time allows in Mexico.

So please pray for me spiritually, financially, and physically as I begin preparing for this new adventure. God is shaping me into that piece of clay that only He can see its final form!!

The face (顔)

Bishamon Elementary School (毘沙門小学校)

1st & 2nd Grade ( 一年生と二年生)

My favorite class of happy and silly monsters that can be found...and only 8 of them at that! They are so sweet and seemingly so shy...until you REALLY get to know 'em hahaha!!

For our final lesson of the year we studied facial parts...did some self-portraits and some pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey (or on the face) activities....

The self-portraits are a real treasure!

"Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work-this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart." ~Ecclesiastes 5:19-20

(I want to live this verse to the fullest EVERYDAY!! But it can be so hard to forget my gladness when I let other things cloud my mind...somehow it can be easier to remember the times of struggle than the times of joy and gladness!!!)

My Dream

(As written by my 7th graders...)

My Dream
I have a cat.
I see a white cat.
The cat is very small and very cute.
Cats make me warm.
The cat is sleeping next to me.
~Minami

My Dream
I'm spending our summer vacation in Australia.
So, it's four o'clock in the afternoon now.
It's a very hot day. I'm running to the river.
I enjoy playing in the water. Wow! It's six o'clock.
I come home. But, I am lost in the woods.
But, animals help me.
~Mako

My Dream
I am cooking dinner at home.
I have one husband and two children.
I go to the park every Sunday with my children.
Today is my child's birthday. I make a cake.
We are doing a birthday party.
Our family is happy.
~Ayana

My Dream
I'm standing on a cloud.
I see white clouds all around.
I look at the street from the cloud.
It looks very small.
~Masanori

My Dream
I'm holding wisdom and understanding.
"Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you."
I want to turn my face to God and shine like the glimmer of a snowflake in the sun.
~Sarah 先生

Sushi and snow festival fun!

100 円　Kaiten Sushi, Hirosaki

Scallops, hotate, are my favorite!

(Of course so are Bethany, Laurie, Sarah, and John.)

Hirosaki Park

The famous Hirosaki Castle in all its snowy splendor.

Randomly met a long-lost friend, Naomi, who moved away a year ago...small world!

Down the path of snow lanterns...and slippery at that. I only fell once as did about everyone else.

The whale really is blowing steam at me!!

My favorite food vendor lady...the festival food is my favorite. Just like having funnel cake in the States, it's the kinda food you can only get at special times, special places. And saying that I didn't get anything (sigh, sigh)...'cuz I was already full on sushi!!

Meditations on today

Complete silence. The world seems to stand still even while all is in motion...the scrapping of the wipers, music blaring, snow pounding, a distant howling, heater blasting, the winds speed quickly by, around, above, below...it is white and beautiful...in a scary dream. Lights come, two. Headlights.

Gray sky cowering over me, holding me down, pressing in on me. A break. Above there is blue sky.

When all the world around me is a cloud of white curtain, You Lord are forever present.

Occurances at the sweaty gym...

As usual I was the only foreigner in the fitness center that has equipment pulled from the early 80's...the puffed-up hair, dark eye makeup, and leotards on the blonde gurl in the demonstration pictures kinda of give it away. Anyways when I was on the treadmill today, I noticed a familar odor. I couldn't at first recognize if it was bad or good, but there it was and making me rake through my mind to bring the memory back. And then POW!! I remembered...the smell of my grandparents. That old age odor that is kinda sweet but objectionable. It was the old man plugging along next to me. I must of had the happiest, sweatiest, red face in the gym after that as I recalled so many nice memories of my Grandpa Ralph, Grandma Orpha, and my Grandma Mary Jane...my family members all have our own special stories about each of these amazing people, but of course I hold many more special ones in my heart that have yet to be written down....some day Mom & Dad!!!

And in other news...the snow saga continues. Another 20 cm expected tomorrow...well over 2 meters in about a week. The National Guard has been called to help dig out some of the prefectures south of us. Please pray for safety and warmth and springtime would be nice too!!

(The entrance to my middle school, 2006.)

(The entrance last year, 2005.)

(Some happy shovelers!)

星...Adieu!!

(Hoshi jammin' w/ the striped gloves.)

星（ほし or "Hoshi"）...The one name I have always been able to remember in Japanese. Maybe 'cuz it means "star"....what an amazing name to have!! My name begins in Japanese with the same character 星 but is pronounced differently "Sei"....for Seira...and it has a longer meaing with the extra "ra". So we said good-bye tonight to someone very special to our church...a star in himself. Hoshi is headed off to Vancouver, B.C. at the sprouting age of 15 to study English and hopefully attend high school there as well...instead of the rigorous and streamlined Japanese high school system. Louise I hope all those English lessons will not leave the poor boy stranded!! hahaha ^_^ Here's a taste of the evening's fun!!

Many blessings Hoshi on your journey!!! "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." ~Romans 15:13

Yes boys and gurls, break-dancing is still done and mighty fine at that!! Aaron and Hoshi have been practicing all week, bruises and all, for this night...very cool!!

Oh my!! And my previous post stands corrected....that would be Yukoちゃん is by far my best Japanese gurlfriend, she is an awesome inspiration!! Somehow it slips my mind that you are Japanese hahaha...must be that Oklahoman accent ^_^ ! Or that you need to come visit us all more often from the far reaches of Aomori-ken!!! We miss you guys...that would be Luke, her husband, also hahaha... And watching the little one grow...at 3 months and a cute little pooch for sure!!!

Tomomi ちゃん, the culinary chica

Tomomi, my best Japanese friend, says to me..."You haven't had your mochi for the new year???"...in tones of astonishment and with echoes of a plan in the making. And so it came about Tomomi was the usual super chef and whipped me up some traditional Japanese New Year's Day soup called "ozouni" that includes various things, but most importantly "mochi" which is like a giant-sized riceball that has no desire to be anything but a riceball, whether in your mouth or stomach....but it's mmmm mmmm good!!! She also prepared "gomoku gohan" which is basically rice with stuff mixed in it. You all might be smacking your lips about now...but don't rely on me to fix you any of this good stuff...I'll leave it all up to Tomomi, who never ceases to amaze me, and enjoy it all the more!!

(Ozouni soup and gomoku gohan)

(Tomomi and I)

(Hide, Tomomi's hubby, proudly showing off his recently acquired Okinawa beer.)